OMAHA, June 18 (UPI) -- Justin Ruchti's RBI single in the ninth inning Wednesday night put Rice into the College World Series finals with a 5-4 win over Texas.
Stanford, meanwhile, fought off elimination with a 5-3 decision over Cal. St.-Fullerton. Those two teams will play again Thursday with the winner taking on Rice in the best-of-three championship series beginning Friday night.
Rice will be trying for its first NCAA team championship in any sport.
Ruchti delivered Matt Cavanaugh from second base with one out in the bottom of the ninth with a liner up the middle off Huston Street, who was the College World Series MVP last year when Texas won the national title.
John Hudgins tossed a five-hitter in Stanford's victory. Carlos Quentin homered twice and drove in three runs.
